Saturday, March 28, 2009

The Avengers

1960s
The evil god Loki (guy on the left) was trapped on an island in
Asgard (home of the Norse gods) by Thor (guy on the right). So, he wanted revenge. He made the Hulk (left to Thor) attack a railroad track, by making him think there was TNT
on it. Rick Jones (the Hulk's sidekick) tried to call the Fantastic 4, but Loki sent the transmission to Thor, but Iron Man (in gold metal suit), Ant-Man (on the ants) and Ant-Man's girlfriend The Wasp (left to Ant-Man) also got the transmission. While they fought the Hulk, Thor figured out Loki was behind this and beat him up. The 5 heroes decided to be a team, the "Avengers"! However, the team's ranks began to change. In the second issue, Ant-Man become Giant-Man and the Hulk left the team, because when Space Phantom took his form the rest of the team quickly turned on him, making him mad. The team decided to try to find and contain the Hulk, leading them to battle with the Sub-Mariner. In issue 4, Captain America (who would later become the leader) joined. The teamed battle Baron Zemo (a foe of Captain America) and his version of Masters of Evil; Kang the Conqueror; Wonder Man (unconnected to Wonder Woman); and Count Nefaria. The next important event in the team history every member (but Captain America) quited the team. So, now three former villains (Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and Hawkeye) joined. Despite a lack of "raw of power", they managed to defeat Swordsman, Power Man I and Doctor Doom. Henry Pym (Ant-Man) and Wasp decided to rejoin the team. Hercules joined the team and so did Black Widow and Black Knight (although they didn't become "official" members, until years later). Thanks to Roy Thomas, Black Panther and the second Vision joined the team. Roy made it so Iron Man funded the team and Edwin Jarvis was there butler. Their new base was super-hi-tech.
1970s
The team battled the Squadron Sinister and was caught in the middle of the Kree-Skrull War. A group of Skrull (shapeshifing several of the heroes) managed to disband the team, but the true founding members (except Wasp) reformed the team thanks to Jarvis. Scarlet Witch fell in love with the Vision (who felt unworthy being a robot). Mantis joined the team with the reformed Swordsman. In a complex series of events, it's reveal Mantis is really Celestial Madonna and her future child will save the universe and the Vision is made out of the "dead" remains of the Human Torch I (not the FF member). Jim Shooter created several storylines, in which Beast of the X-Men, Ms. Marvel, Wonder Man (brought back to life) and Falcon. Henry Peter Gyrich (a member of United States National Security Council) was introduced. He forced the team to only have seven members max. Hawkeye got kick out so Falcon could have his slot (because he was African American), but Falcon decided to quit, because he perceived this as tokenism.
1980s
Henry Pym had a mental breakdown. Egghead impersonated him and got Pym was jailed. However, Pym managed to prove his innocence by defeating the newest version of the Masters of Evil. But, this seriously damaged his relationship with Wasp. He quit from being a superhero (although he would return). In the 1980's, many notable storylines such as "Ultimate Vision" (where Vision tried to take over all the world's computer and tried cause world peace) and "War on Olympus" (where Zeus blamed the Avengers for Heracles getting hurt). New members of the team included the second Marvel comic Captain Marvel, She-Hulk, Tigra, Namor, Starfox and Mockingbird (Henry joined the West Coast Avengers [formed in the "Ultimate Vision" storyline]). They met a new foe, Nebula, who falsely claim to be Thanos' granddaughter. The Avengers moved into the Hydrobase, when their mansion was damaged. The Hydrobase was destroyed during "Acts of Vengeance".
1990s
The two Avenger teams merged into one (but with two bases). Scarlet Witch goes insane upon discovering her children were merely illusions and the "death" of the Vision (he was taken apart by government agents), but her insanity is cured. It was revealed SW could potentially warp reality (which is important for the "Chaos" & "Avengers Disassembled" storylines). The Avengers were in the middle of the "Acts of Vengeance" crossover (where the villains decided to target different heroes than they usually do). But, the villains' plan to destroy the Avengers failed. The team became two teams again. The team was revamped so it members were Black Knight, Sersi, Crystal, Quicksilver, Hercules and the Vision. Around this time, they start to face even more murderous foes, causing them to question the "no killing" rule. During "Operation: Galactic Storm", they Avengers decided to split up, when Iron execute the Supreme Intelligence, despite the wishes of Captain America. The West Coast Avengers disbanded. The team was sucked into alternate reality in "Heroes Reborn", but out.
2000s
The team got international authority. In "Avengers Disassembled", the Scarlet Witch went insane and kill many of team's members and the remaining members quit the team. To respond to mass prison break, Captain America and Iron Man formed the New Avengers. Luke Cage, Spider-Man, and Spider-Woman I, Ronin, the Sentry and Wolverine joined the team. During the Civil War, Captain America formed a splinter group to rebel againist the Superhuman Registration Act. But, Iron Man's group kept the name of the "New Avengers". After the Civil War, the members of the team are Ronin (Hawkeye), Echo, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, Iron Fist and Doctor Strange. The team battled the ninja-group the Hand and a villain called the Hood. The Avengers (again) were caught in the middle of a big crossover this time the Secret Invasion. After Iron Fist and Echo leave, Ms. Marvel, Mockingbird and Captain America II joined the New Avengers. Iron Man formed the "Mighty Avengers" (in response to the Civil War) with Ares, the Black Widow, Iron Man, the Sentry, the Wasp, Wonder Man and the leader Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers). All the team, but Ares and Sentry (and Wasp, who died), left when Norman Osborn (the Green Goblin) took over. The team began to work for the Global Reaction Agency for Mysterious Paranormal Activity (GRAMPA). Hercules, Amadeus Cho, Stature, the Vision, Jocasta, U.S. Agent, Quicksilver and Hank Pym joined the team. Iron and the Hulk briefly helped the team. Norman took over Avengers (now funded by HAMMER, which he owns), whose members are Ares, Sentry, Marvel Boy Draken; and Moonstone, Bullseye, and Venom (posing as Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, and Spider-Man).
2010s
All the Avenger comic titles were replaced by a new Avenger series simply called Avengers. The members (in issue 1) are revealed to be Thor, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Spider-Woman, Iron Man, Steve Rogers (Captain America I), and team leader Maria Hill. Although, they mention an unnamed hero was missing. Noh-Varr later joined the team.
References:
The Incredible Hulk Ultimate Guide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avengers_(comics)
http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/avengers/1-1.jpg
Marvel Chronicles

Sunday, March 22, 2009

The Incredible Hulk


Bruce Banner's father, Brian Banner, feared radiation. Soon, he believed his wife, Rebecca Banner was exposed to it. After Bruce was born, he was convinced he would become a monster. He tried to kill Banner, but killed Rebecca instead. So Bruce was sent to live with his aunt when his dad was sent to jail. In school Bruce was into learning about radiation. Eventually Bruce worked for a nuclear research program. Bruce's boss, Igor Starsky, was really a Russian spy. When the Gamma bomb was being tested a boy, Rick Jones (future sidekick of the Hulk) wandered into the sight. Bruce saved the boy, only to be affected by the radiation and turn into the Hulk. Soon he ended up beating up Igor. Although he was at first grey (and could lift 70 tons), he became green (and easily could lift 70 tons). First his transformation only took place when the sun set, later Bruce built a machine to control the change and finally the Hulk became free, when Bruce got mad. His rouge villain gallery include the hypnotic Ringmaster, the super smart Leader, the evil wizard Loki, Abomination and Madman (both have the Hulk's power, but stay smart), the psonic M.O.D.O.K and even some heroes like Thor, The Fantastic 4, Spider Man and the X-Men.
References:
Incredible Hulk Ultimate Guide

X-Men part 2: The More, The Merrier



All of the X-Men, except Cyclops, were held captive by Krakoa, the living island. So Xavier gathered new mutants to save them, they were Colossus a.k.a Piotr Nikolaievitch (able to turn his body into a metal organic substance), Storm a.k.a Orro Munroe (able to control the weather), the Night Crawler (able to teleport, blend in with shadows and looks like a demon), Wolverine a.k.a James Howlett a.k.a Logan (ages super slowly, heals super fast, can draw claws out of his forearms and has acute senses), the super strong and durable Tunderbird a.k.a John Proudstar and former criminals Sunfire and Banshee a.k.a Sean Cassidy (able to fire powerful sonic waves from his mouth). After the original X-Men were safe, all of them (but Cyclops) quit the X-Men, only to rejoin later. Thunderbird died on his 2nd mission and Sunfire quit because he is a loner.
References:
X-Men Ultimate Guide
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3237072719_0356814c5e.jpg

The X-Men part 1: The Good Old Days

A crippled telepathic and telekinetic mutant called Xavier dreamed of a time when "normal" humans and mutants could live in peace. But he knew some mutants opposed this idea. So he decided to form a mutant super hero team. He had the somewhat tragic Cyclops a.k.a Scott Summer (who shoots force beams from his eyes); the winged Angel a.k.a Warren Worthington the 3rd; the smart, agile Beast a.k.a Henry McCoy (in human form); the hot shot Ice Man a.k.a Bobby Drake (turns moisture into ice) and the also the telepathic and telekinetic Marvel Girl a.k.a Jean Grey (later known as the Phoenix). Their main foe was Magneto (a mutant with magnetic powers). However they also fought the hypnotic Mesmro, the teleporting Vashiner, the Brother Hood of Evil Mutants (the members were the telepathic Mastermind, the super fast Quicksilver, the jumpy Toad and the magic-like Scarlet Witch) and flying / fire shooting mutant Sunfire. Soon the Beast drank a chemical turning him into a fur ape-man-thing. Xavier died while stopping the mad Gortesk, only it was later revealed that a shape shifting mutant known as Changeling was actually the one who died.
Source(s):
X-Men Ultimate Guide

Introduction


Welcome to the Comix "Secret" HQ. Here you'll learn things about some comic characters you may have never known! My entries will include information on Daredevil, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider Man , The Uncanny X-Men and The Fantastic Four. Also some less well known like The 3-D Man, The Black Marvel and The Ghost(a.k.a The Flying Dutchman). You'll learn their secret identities, powers, weapons and other cool stuff.